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Iraq’s reliance on oil revenues fell to 84% in five months

Official data from the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, released on Monday, showed that the contribution of oil revenues to financing the federal budget during the first five months of 2026 fell to 84%, compared to 91% during the same period in 2025, while the contribution of non-oil revenues rose to 16%. IraqPolitics News

According to the ministry’s report, which was reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, the total revenues of the federal budget until the end of May 2026 amounted to about 33.747 trillion dinars, compared to 46.157 trillion dinars during the same period of 2025, a decrease of 12.410 trillion dinars, and a decline rate of about 26.9%.

Oil and mineral revenues amounted to 26.946 trillion dinars by the end of May 2026, compared to 41.931 trillion dinars in the same period last year, a decrease of 14.985 trillion dinars, or about 35.7%.

In contrast, non-oil revenues rose to 6.477 trillion dinars, compared to 4.226 trillion dinars in the same period of 2025, an increase of 2.251 trillion dinars, and a growth rate of about 53.3%, raising its contribution to total revenues from 9% to 16%.

The data showed an improvement in most non-oil revenue sources, as taxes on income and wealth increased from 574 billion dinars to 635.6 billion dinars, commodity taxes and production fees increased from 1.028 trillion dinars to 1.440 trillion dinars, fees increased from 434 billion dinars to 486.6 billion dinars, while the budget’s share of public sector profits increased from 660 billion dinars to 1.242 trillion dinars.

The report indicated that total oil revenues for 2026 amounted to 27.270 trillion dinars, including 2.090 trillion dinars representing oil revenues delivered from the Kurdistan Region to the state treasury after accounting adjustments.

The comparison between the two years shows that the decline in total revenues is mainly due to the decline in oil revenues, while the remarkable growth in non-oil revenues contributed to raising their contribution to the budget resources, with oil revenues continuing as the main source of financing the public treasury.

Shafaq.com

A fuel crisis hits Iraq… and an expert confirms: generators and declining production are behind the shortage.

The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, is experiencing a shortage of kerosene after a number of gas stations experienced a lack of supply, causing vehicles to queue up in front of the stations to obtain the fuel, amid confirmations that high demand and a decline in local production are behind the crisis. DailyNews Reports

Meanwhile, energy expert Assem Jihad confirmed that the shortage of kerosene is due to increased domestic demand coinciding with increased consumption of private generators during the summer, as well as a decline in production quantities in a number of oil refineries, which has led to a widening gap between production and consumption.

Jihad told Shafaq News Agency that the government provides quantities of “kerosene” free of charge to private generators as part of a program to support the supply of energy to citizens, in addition to meeting the needs of other sectors that depend on this material, which has raised the levels of demand significantly, at a time when local refineries have not been able to meet the full need due to the limited production capacity, as well as the maintenance work that some refining units are witnessing.

He added that the Ministry of Oil resorted to importing quantities of “kerosene” to compensate for the shortage and ensure the continued supply of private generators and local markets, stressing that this step comes to maintain the stability of supplies and prevent a shortage of the material, especially with the rise in electrical loads and the increased reliance on generators during the summer months.

Jihad pointed out that importing “kerosene” is a temporary measure until the production of local refineries increases and the development projects of the refining sector are completed, which will contribute to enhancing self-sufficiency and reducing the need for imports in the future.

In Anbar, the mayor of Habbaniyah district, Ali Dawood Suleiman, chaired a meeting that included the director of the Habbaniyah Oil Unit and oil derivatives transporters, in the presence of the director of economic crime, a representative of national security and a representative of the district police, to discuss mechanisms for distributing oil derivatives and regulating the work of transporters.

Salman, in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, pointed to the need to adhere to the applicable regulations and instructions, stressing the importance of ensuring the smooth distribution of “kerosene” and its arrival to all private generators according to the approved mechanisms.

He also directed the Judicial Police, National Security and the Economic Crime Directorate to intensify monitoring of the work of oil derivatives transporters and their distribution mechanisms, and to take legal action against anyone proven to be involved in monopoly or manipulation.

Last June, the Ministry of Oil announced the release of the July quota of gas oil (“kerosene”) for private generators at a rate of 45 liters per (kW), free of charge, in implementation of the directives of the Prime Minister with the aim of supporting generator owners and easing the burdens on citizens during the summer season.

The ministry stated in an official statement that the oil products distribution company will be responsible for preparing the quotas, calling on generator owners to receive them from approved outlets, and to commit to operating the generators for citizens for no less than 20 hours a day in rotation with the national electricity, according to the approved regulations.

Shafaq.com

Iraq will be the third largest Arab exporter with $90 billion by 2025

Iraq ranked third among the largest Arab exporting countries in 2025, according to data from the World Trade Organization, reflecting the continued dependence of the Iraqi economy mainly on oil exports, despite their decline compared to the previous year.

Iraq’s exports reached approximately $93 billion in 2025, ranking it third among the largest Arab exporting countries, an indicator that reflects the continued pivotal role of Iraqi exports, particularly oil exports, in supporting foreign trade and the national economy.

The United Arab Emirates topped the list with exports of $707 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia with $311 billion, then Iraq in third place, while Qatar came in fourth with $89 billion, Kuwait in fifth with $72 billion, followed by the Sultanate of Oman with $55 billion.

Egypt recorded exports worth $51 billion, Morocco $50 billion, and Algeria $45 billion, while Libya came in tenth place with exports of $30 billion.

The data indicates that the Gulf states continued to dominate the list of the largest Arab exporters, supported by oil and gas exports, while Iraq maintained its position among the top ranks thanks to its oil exports, which represent the largest proportion of its total exports. MiddleEast Politics

Shafaq.com

United Nations: The Iraqi government has taken serious steps in combating corruption.

The United Nations program confirmed on Monday that the Iraqi government has taken serious steps in recovering assets and combating corruption. Yama Turabi, director of the “Combating Corruption and Promoting Arbitration” project at the United Nations program, stated in a statement to the official newspaper that “the anti-corruption program has witnessed serious and urgent steps from the government with regard to following up on asset recovery specifically.” MiddleEast Politics

He added that “Iraq can improve the gap between cases in which damage has been proven and the number of civil lawsuits, the procedural errors in them, and the lack of quality and continuity of legal representation,” noting “the need to consider the continuity of the payment approach and the non-finality of the ruling in some cases.”

Abdullah Al-Dardari, Regional Director for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme, also stated: “We at the United Nations Development Programme have been working to support Iraqi institutions in this field over the past ten years.”

He added that “the aspects of cooperation included supporting the development of the National Strategy for Integrity and Combating Corruption, providing technical assistance in drafting pivotal legal reforms to reduce corruption, providing experts and equipment to the Iraqi Academy for Combating Corruption, organizing specialized training in this field for various entities, and facilitating the building of cooperative relationships, including agreement instruments with counterpart countries to enhance mutual legal assistance, extradition of those accused of corruption, and recovery of funds.”

He also explained that “achieving positive steps in combating corruption during the last decade has been reflected in a slight improvement in the relevant international indicators, as Iraq advanced on the Corruption Perceptions Index from rank 161/168 countries (with a score of 16 percentage points) in 2015 to rank 136/182 (with a score of 28 percentage points) in 2025.”

He emphasized “the current government’s commitment to completing this approach, given Iraq’s need to combat corruption as a fundamental means of enhancing the quality of public services, attracting investment, accelerating the pace of social and economic development, and increasing the efficiency of resource allocation in serving the people.” He continued, “From a developmental perspective, we must not view corruption from a narrow perspective that confines it to the theft of public resources that should have been allocated to investment in promoting development and achieving prosperity for the people, despite the enormity of this direct damage. Direct financial losses resulting from corruption worldwide are estimated at approximately $3.6 trillion annually, a value that is close to the size of the current financial gap in funding work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the 2030 Agenda in all countries of the world.”

Burathanews.com

Government financial advisor: Government plan to raise non-oil revenues to 46 percent

The Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, announced on Monday that the government has developed a plan to raise non-oil revenues to 46% within ten years. He indicated that the government is committed to increasing the private sector’s contribution to 54% of GDP. Salih told the official news agency that “the government’s fiscal policy for the next ten years aims to achieve economic stability and sustainable development by diversifying revenue sources and strengthening the role of the private sector in the national economy.” He added that “the fiscal policy has a pivotal planning path, with achieving the goals of economic stability and sustainable development at the forefront of its priorities. The government will continue to implement its tools and procedures through the federal budget by restructuring public expenditures and revenues, which will contribute to restructuring the real economy at the macro level.”

He added that “the financial path aims to achieve two main goals during the next ten years, the first of which is to diversify non-oil revenue sources to reach about 46% of total public revenues, compared to no more than 10% or less at the present time, while the second goal is to raise the contribution of the private sector to the gross domestic product from about 37% to 54% during the next decade.”

Saleh explained that “the financial plan stems from the conviction that diversifying public revenues and reducing the burdens imposed by a single-sector rentier economy go hand in hand with increasing the contribution of the private sector to the gross domestic product, because expanding the contribution of the private sector enhances the diversification of the national economy and increases opportunities for investment, production and employment.”

He also pointed out that “the principles and mechanisms of financial planning for the future of Iraq are based on gradually enhancing the added value produced by the private sector, which supports diversifying the structure of the gross domestic product and enhances the sustainability of economic growth.”

Saleh explained that “revitalizing the productive sectors, expanding the investment base, and implementing strategic projects with a direct impact on local development are key pillars for creating sustainable job opportunities and reducing unemployment rates to single digits, reaching about 3% of the total workforce, instead of its current level of 13%.”

He stressed that “the economic philosophy upon which the process of sustainable development and achieving stability in Iraq is based is based on an effective partnership between the state and the market, which ensures the integration of the public and private roles in building a diversified economy that is more capable of facing future challenges.”

Burathanews.com

Iraq Drilling Company: Rehabilitation of two oil wells in the Qurna and Zubair fields

The Iraqi Drilling Company announced on Monday the completion of the rehabilitation of two oil wells in the Qurna and Zubair fields. The company’s media office stated in a statement that “in implementation of the directives of the Minister of Oil, Basim Muhammad Khudair Al-Abadi, and with the follow-up of the Director General of the Iraqi Drilling Company, Muhammad Hantoush Asad Al-Azirjawi, the technical and engineering staff of the company completed the rehabilitation work of the oil well WQ1-233 in the West Qurna/1 field, at a depth of 2536 meters, using the IDC-32 rehabilitation device.” IraqEconomic Reports

He also explained that “the company’s staff completed the reclamation of the ZB-402 oil well in the Zubair oil field, at a depth of 3,511 meters, using the IDC-47 reclamation device.” Al-Azirjawi continued, “This achievement reflects the company’s continued implementation of well reclamation work according to the approved operational plans, and in line with the Ministry of Oil’s directives aimed at supporting production and enhancing the efficiency of operations in the oil fields.” He emphasized that “the company will continue to utilize its technical capabilities and national expertise to complete projects with the required quality and within the specified timeframes.”

He also confirmed that “this achievement is part of the company’s operational program to carry out well rehabilitation work according to the highest technical standards, which contributes to enhancing the efficiency of operational processes and supporting the Ministry of Oil’s plans to develop and sustain production.”

Burathanews.com

Al-Shibani: Threats will not intimidate us, and we will continue to expose the Kirkuk corruption case to the end.

MP Othman al-Shibani, from the State of Law Coalition, affirmed today that the threats he has received will not deter him from continuing to expose the corruption case in Kirkuk. He called on the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to launch a comprehensive investigation and hold all those involved accountable.

In a statement received by the Information Agency, al-Shibani said, “The corruption case in Kirkuk will not be closed or buried, and we will not allow the truth to be concealed, no matter the pressure.” He explained that the case “involves counterfeit medicines, contaminated food, drugs, arms and vehicle smuggling operations, and everything that targeted Iraq’s security and the health of its citizens.”

He added, “The threats I have received since yesterday will not deter me from performing my duty, nor will they push me to back down one step.” He emphasized his determination to continue exposing the case “to its conclusion, whatever the cost.”

He pointed out that “the role of the Parliament is to combat corruption, protect the rights of Iraqis, and build a state governed by law and justice.” He asserted that attempts at intimidation “will not succeed in silencing the voice of truth or protecting the corrupt from justice.”

Al-Shaibani called on the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to “open this file in all its details and hold all those involved accountable, including those who planned, executed, financed, protected, and covered up, without exception or favoritism,” stressing that “the prestige of the state can only be built by holding the corrupt accountable.” FinancialData Access

Almaalomah.me

US forces evacuated from Baghdad’s Green Zone and transferred to Harir base in Erbil

A security source reported on Friday that an American force stationed in the Green Zone in central Baghdad was evacuated and moved to Harir base in Erbil province for precautionary reasons.

The source told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “Harir base in Erbil received an American force coming from the Green Zone in central Baghdad in a maneuver intended to protect its forces from potential Iranian missile attacks.” News

He added that “the evacuation of American forces from the Green Zone came as a surprise, coinciding with warnings issued by the Trump administration about the imminent closure of a number of airports as a result of the aggression against Iran,” noting “the recording of intensive American air activity without knowing the reasons for the nature of the movements.”

The source explained that “US forces may use Harir Air Base as a location to redeploy some of their forces in Iraq during the current phase, at a time when calls continue from Iraqi political, tribal, and religious groups demanding an end to the US military presence in the country.”

Almaalomah.me

Between Trump and Pezeshkian… Al-Zaidi maneuvers: What has he achieved for Baghdad?

During his visit to the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi carried with him multiple political, security, and economic files, in his second foreign stop after his visit to Washington, which focused on economic, investment, and energy issues.

The one-day visit, which included meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and several senior Iranian officials, came amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, and Baghdad’s attempts to maintain a delicate balance between its strategic ally in Washington and its neighbor Iran.

During the talks, Al-Zaydi stressed that “Iraq and Iran’s security is shared,” emphasizing that Baghdad will not allow any threat targeting Iran to originate from Iraqi territory, while calling for expanding investments and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

The visit also resulted in the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding in the fields of transport, railways, training and management, including an agreement on international freight shipping and transport, a memorandum on railway linking Kermanshah, Khosravi and Khanaqin to Baghdad, as well as a twinning memorandum between Baghdad and Tehran, and another for the development of government administration and human resources.

Observers believe that the most prominent aspect of the visit was Iraq’s attempt to establish its position as a party capable of communicating with various regional and international powers, amid increasing talk of a possible Iraqi role in bringing Washington and Tehran closer together.

Baghdad mediation

In this context, Professor of International Relations Saleh Al-Shadhar believes that the visit comes at a stage that is witnessing a reshaping of the regional system, considering that Iraq will be an important player in the next stage.

Al-Shadhar told Shafaq News Agency that “a regional Arab system is forming, and Iraq will have a major role in leading it,” noting that the Middle East is witnessing transformations led by the United States within an international system with a unipolar tendency.

According to the professor of international relations, Al-Zaidi has a role that US President Donald Trump described as being significant for Iraq, considering that the Tehran visit could lead to important results in terms of Iraqi foreign policy.

According to Al-Shadhar, one of the goals of the visit is to convey reassuring messages to the Iranian side regarding the possibility of returning to the path of negotiations with Washington, including previous agreements, the nuclear program and ballistic missiles, or reaching a truce that allows for discussion of outstanding issues.

He asserts that Iraq’s partnership with the United States under the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement, along with its historical ties with Iran, gives it an opportunity to play a mediating role acceptable to both sides.

Tehran Files

For his part, Iranian affairs expert Mehdi Azizi believes that talk of an Iraqi role in mediating between Washington and Tehran preceded the visit, whether through statements by Iraqi officials or through media discussions in Iran and the United States.

Azizi explained to Shafaq News Agency that “Trump wanted to give al-Zaidi the role of mediator between Iran and America to bring them back to the negotiating table,” noting that Iraq has direct motives to engage in this path, given the impact of any escalation on its security and economy.

He adds that the Strait of Hormuz file is one of the most prominent issues on the table, as the continued disruption of navigation or the closure of the strait will directly affect the Iraqi economy and oil exports.

He also indicates that economic relations between Baghdad and Tehran, and the American messages that al-Zaidi is believed to be carrying to Iranian officials, were among the issues discussed.

He also points out that the issue of armed factions in Iraq is one of the most sensitive issues, explaining that Washington has demanded that weapons be restricted to the state, and that part of the discussions may address the possibility of pushing Tehran to influence the factions that refuse to hand over their weapons.

He says the visit represents al-Zaidi’s “second stop” after Washington, which gives it special importance in light of the entanglement of regional issues including Syria, Lebanon, and the future of Iraqi-American relations.

De-escalation

Independent politician Abu Mithaq al-Masari believes that the most prominent aspect of the Tehran visit is the attempt to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran.

Al-Masari told Shafaq News Agency that “an important part of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s visit to Iran will be dedicated to containing friction between the American and Iranian sides,” noting that cooling down contentious issues and postponing some outstanding points may open the door to new understandings.

Al-Masari notes that returning to the memorandum signed between the two parties represents an important goal to spare the region, and Iraq in particular, the repercussions of any military confrontation.

He points out that Iraq’s good relations with both sides of the crisis give it a greater opportunity than others to play a mediating role, noting that Al-Zaidi’s visit to the White House was immediately followed by his visit to Tehran, which, in his estimation, reflects a desire on both sides to benefit from the Iraqi role in reducing escalation.

Economic dimension

For his part, Hassan Fad’am, a leader in the Wisdom Movement, links the visits to Washington and Tehran, considering that Iraq’s external movement aims primarily to provide a stable environment that supports the economy and development.

Fadaam told Shafaq News Agency that Al-Zaidi’s visit to the United States focused on moving Iraqi-American relations from a security and military framework to an economic, investment and development partnership.

This shows that implementing these projects requires a safe environment and political and economic stability, which is what prompted Baghdad to try to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.

He affirms that Iraq, by virtue of its geographical location and its relations with Iran, is capable of conveying messages and contributing to dialogue processes, noting that Iraqi foreign policy focuses on protecting stability and preventing the country from becoming an arena of conflict between regional and international powers.

Limits of mediation

In contrast, Ashraf Akka, an international relations expert from Ramallah, believes that Baghdad’s ability to prevent a large-scale escalation between Washington and Tehran faces significant challenges due to the nature of the conflict itself.

Akka told Shafaq News Agency, “I don’t believe that the Iraqi Prime Minister’s visit to Iran alone can prevent Iraq and the region from sliding into a wider confrontation,” explaining that the region is experiencing a phase of alignments that go beyond the limits of the traditional Iranian-American dispute.

He adds that Iraq faces an internal challenge in the differing positions of political forces and factions regarding the nature of the relationship with the United States, noting that the success of any foreign policy requires internal national consensus.

It shows that the current conflict is not limited to a confrontation between Tehran and Washington, but is related to redrawing the balance of influence and the geopolitical and economic balances in the region.

He emphasizes that the ability of any Iraqi prime minister to achieve a genuine balance requires an internal national dialogue capable of managing divisions over the war and regional alliances.

Outcomes of the visit

In addition to the political issues, Al-Zaidi’s visit had a clear economic dimension, as the joint Iraqi-Iranian statement confirmed the agreement to prepare a comprehensive strategic document to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, cultural and security fields.

The two sides also agreed to enhance trade and joint investments, develop cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, transit, industry and agriculture, as well as accelerate the implementation of railway linkage projects.

One of the most prominent projects that has been emphasized is the railway link between Iraq and Iran, which is expected to enhance the movement of goods and passengers, and support Iraq’s position as a regional trade corridor.

The statement also included strengthening cooperation in addressing environmental challenges, particularly drought, dust storms and water resource management, as well as expanding security coordination in combating terrorism, organized crime and smuggling.

Shafaq.com